Zelensky Discusses Reviving Talks with Witkoff and Kushner

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke by phone with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in an effort to revive negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

“A very positive conversation. Grateful for the willingness to work as actively as possible already in these coming weeks to give a push to diplomacy for ending Russia’s war against Ukraine,” Zelensky said on X after the call.

“We understand how many eyes of the world are drawn to the situation around Iran. But our common goal of peace in Europe remains on the agenda,” he added.

“We discussed the prospects related to the G7 summit expected to be held in France in mid-June, and other events scheduled for the month,” he continued, explaining that he had briefed his counterparts on Moscow’s “intentions.”

Zelensky repeatedly mentioned the possibility of a visit by US envoys to Kyiv, which would be the first such visit since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

In early June, he expressed regret that organizing the visit had taken “too long,” while acknowledging that Iran currently occupied “Washington’s top priority.”

In recent months, several rounds of US-sponsored negotiations have failed to bridge the gap between Kyiv and Moscow to reach an agreement, and the process has become increasingly stalled as Washington’s attention shifted to Iran.

Last week, Zelensky proposed a face-to-face meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, but the latter rejected the idea, demanding a final agreement before any meeting.

The Russian government is demanding political and territorial concessions from Ukraine, including a complete withdrawal from the Donetsk region, demands which Kyiv rejects, considering them tantamount to surrender.

On the ground, Russian airstrikes on the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine killed four people and injured 15 others, local authorities said on Tuesday.

“The enemy has hit the city of Chuguiv,” Kharkiv regional governor Oleg Synegubov wrote on Telegram, adding that four people, including a 22-year-old woman, were killed.

Russian airstrikes cause casualties almost daily in residential areas of Ukraine, while Kyiv responds with regular strikes on targets in occupied territories, as well as inside Russia. (AFP)